Twelve competitors, including a duo have advanced to the final of the Carib Soca Monarch slated for next Saturday at the National Park. These singers will seek to wrest the crown from the reigning monarch Orlando ‘Bonesman’ Johashen. The Scene spoke with the confident finalists this week.
Beverly ‘Little B’ Smith is excited full of energy for the final. “I know that I will put on a good show,” the 44-year-old mother of five said. This is her third attempt at securing the Carib Soca Monarch crown. The closest she got in the past was the third spot. Her song is “On De Road Again” and part of it goes:
“Everybody deh doin deh thing
On de road again
Everybody sweatin and winin
On deh road jamming
On de road again
Flags in the sky
On the road
People getting high
On de road…”
For Roger Hinds popularly known as `Young Bill Rogers’, grabbing another title in this year’s festivities is the only thing on his mind. The 39-year-old father of two has already won the Health Song competition. He is also participating in the Calypso competition with the song “Soup Drinkers” and the Road March competition. He said that at the Soca semi final held in Linden, “I didn’t excel at the rate that I wanted to in terms of crowd support”. He expressed the view that he came too early in the line up of performances. “Next Saturday you can expect a lot of surprises,” he said. According to Hinds his rehearsals are on track and his dancers are in order. His song is “Behind a Band” and part of the chorus goes:
“Behind a band we jumpin
Behind a band we winin
Behind a band we waving
Seeing dem bumpas rollin
They can’t stop GT atall
Cause we ready fuh de festival…”
Duo Roger ‘Tropical’ Hassell and Compton ‘The Mysterious Boyce’ Boyce said they will be taking the competition by storm with their piece “Regardless” and anticipate taking it all home. ‘Tropical’ told this newspaper that he thinks the song is the best in the competition judging from the reviews he has been receiving while Boyce said that the song is very good and full of energy, just right for such a competition. “I wanna win… everyone bringing out they AKs and is a real tight completion,” he said before dishing out a few of the song’s lyrics:
“We come out to free up
We come out to have some fun
Even if yuh stressed out
All night we trampling down.”
George Anthony Abrams said his song, “Wine Attack”, is pretty good and was written by Michael James. He, like everyone else, is eyeing the crown, while competition is stiff. The artiste shared a few of the lyrics:
“Lime, tomatoes, celery, seasoning
Lime, tomatoes, celery, seasoning….”
Melissa Roberts, better known as Vanilla, agreed that competition is tight but pointed out that her song has been doing very well on the radio and feedback has revealed that the followers have greatly favoured her song entitled “Rage”. The songstress shared a few lines with The Scene:
“Rage in meh body
Rage in meh soul
Rage out of control
Rage, rage, rage.”
Also heating up the airwaves is Granny Ivelaw’s “African Moods” which has since been invading the homes of Guyanese people and leaving them in glee. Ivelaw Compton, the man behind the costume, opined that the song is very catchy and pointed out that it is a “modern-day song” since it’s the reality in may homes making it very relatable. He also noted that “African Moods” can play at any time of the year and not just during the upcoming Mashramani celebrations. Compton said he is expecting to place among the three finalists or to achieve the best new comer position. His song goes like this
“I give she money to buy groceries
She tek money and buy DVDs
From Giftland, Movieland and Matts
And when I come home
Is empty bowl
Is empty all because
Of African Moods.”
Roger ‘Roger B’ Bowen said his song, “Fire Man”, is very good since he’s been getting excellent feedback from the public. “There’s a lot of good talent but I am looking to win it,” he said. Roger B’s song goes like this:
“Rude boy give she de water
Rude boy give she de hose
Rude boy she body on fire
Rude boy she body explode.”
Rudolph ‘Sweet Kendingo’ Kendall only said that he is in the competition to win and thinks “well” about his song “We Going Till Morning” before sharing a few lines:
“Don’t know what’s happening
Kim tell meh she going
I decided to put on something
What I couldn’t understand
Got there, party ram
Is who organize this bram-bram.”
Guyana’s three-time soca monarch, Adrian Dutchin said his song “I am a Guyanese” is “pretty cool” and he expects to go in and do his best. “I’m gonna give it my all,” he said. Dutchin’s song goes like this:
“I am a Guyanese
I am a Guyanese
No matter where I be
I am a Guyanese.”
Also in this competition is Dutchin’s X2 counterpart, Jumo ‘Rubber waist’ Primo who said he expects a good outcome since his song “One People” covers every aspect. “It cover the unity of all the races, it cover Mash and speaks of our motto. To make it as a nation, for this country to strive, we need all of our people, no matter the colour or race, we need each other and that’s what my song is about,” Primo said. A line from his song goes:
“We are one people, one nation, one destiny.”
Jonathon ‘Lil Red’ King, son of Michelle ‘Big Red’ King, is now sharing the spotlight as a musician. The 18-year-old told The Scene that his song, “Hold Meh Tight”, was written in a tricky way since it tells two stories and as such, can be interpreted differently. He said his song is well received and has good lyrics. He said at the final, he is expecting to bring energy and excitement to the stage and to win. Lil Red’s song goes like this:
“Ah grab de gears and prepare to climb de mountain
Taking so long to come and I start counting
Started climbing slow, now we climbing fast
A lot ah energy use up and now she out a gas
Cyan believe it she tired already
Holding de rope stiff, I holding it steady
She start to slip but I didn’t understand
She nearly fall and I ketch she by she hand”
Wilbur ‘B52’ Levans could not be reached for a comment. His song in this year’s competition is entitled “Highly Flammable”.
